Getting There: Francis Avenue renovation gets into high gear

Road construction has moved into northwest Spokane in a major way with work on the state Highway 291 route along Francis Avenue west of Division Street and then northward on Nine Mile Road.

Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction between Wall and Cedar streets through about the middle of June so Avista Utilities can install a new natural gas line.

That work is being done in preparation of the main repaving project from Division to Nine Mile Falls.

Crack-sealing repair work is planned for the highway segment from Nine Mile Falls to the Stevens County line.

The idea is to extend the life of the roadway. Delays are expected along the route.

Shamrock Paving Co. of Spokane County is the contractor on a $3.8 million bid.

Construction work on sidewalk ramps and utility openings has been underway in recent days.

Paving could start as early as Thursday in the section from Royal Drive and Nine Mile Falls.

Paving crews will be on the job 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. each day to reduce the impact on daytime traffic.

As the work continues this month, crews will progressively move south and east toward Division.

A pair of other projects in the vicinity of Francis and Market Street is causing traffic disruptions as well. The state is installing a new overpass bridge for the North Spokane Corridor along with improvements to the Francis and Market intersection.

The city is rebuilding Francis from Haven to Crestline streets through a portion of this month. That stretch is closed to traffic.

Work will move west this summer for reconstruction of the segment of Francis from Division to Crestline, resulting in a closure there.

Monroe Street Bridge closure

Traffic in northwest Spokane is also being affected by the closure of Monroe Street at the Monroe Street Bridge starting today through June 17.

The closure is for construction of a new stormwater diversion system that will stop the flow of rain and snow melt going from Monroe directly into the Spokane River.

The city is teaming up with Greenstone Corp. to collect water from Monroe and a portion of the Kendall Yards development and move it to a park facility designed to double as a stormwater retention and evaporation pond.

Excavation has been underway in recent weeks on the northwest side of the bridge.

The job involves burying a concrete retention tank that is 56 feet long, 31 feet wide and 23 1/2 feet deep. Four submersible pumps will move the stormwater to the evaporation pond.

The $1.6 million project is being financed jointly by the city, the state and Kendall Yards.

Traffic is rerouted to Washington Street through Riverfront Park. Sidewalks along the bridge also are closed, and bus routes will detour to Washington.

Upcoming events will affect drivers

The city of Spokane is warning drivers that a series of community events this month will result in temporary traffic restrictions and closures at several locations across the city.

Elkfest in Browne’s Addition June 7-9 will result in closure of Pacific Avenue from Cannon to First streets for the weekend music festival. Heavy pedestrian and vehicle traffic are expected.

The 22nd annual Spokane Pride Parade on June 8 will result in the closure of downtown streets from noon to 1 p.m. along the parade route. In addition, the staging area will result in closure of North Wall Street as early as 10:30 a.m.

A Swamp Stomp Car Show on June 8 will result in closure of the 1800 and 1900 blocks of West Fifth Avenue from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

I-90, Highway 195 work west of city

The last part of a project to improve pavement conditions on Interstate 90 at the Sunset Hill will get underway Friday with crews installing permanent lane striping and other work on the shoulders.

Work will go from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. through June 22.

Also in that vicinity on I-90, the westbound off-ramp to U.S. Highway 195 will be closed Saturday starting about 10 p.m. until about 6 a.m. Sunday. A detour will be marked. A crew is doing repair work on a bridge.

To the west, another bridge deck repair job will start Tuesday at the railroad overpass on I-90 just west of the Cheney and Four Lakes interchange.

Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction and the speed limit will be cut from 70 to 60 mph for that job.

U.S. 395 getting reflective markers

A project to install recessed and reflective lane markers on U.S. 395 north of Wandermere could result in slowdowns along the highway.

Valley projects to bring slowdowns

In Spokane Valley, crews are sealing pavement cracks throughout the city this month.

Montgomery Drive from Wilbur Road to the westbound I-90 on ramp will be reduced to one lane from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. today through Friday for utility work. Flaggers will direct traffic.

Pines Road from 16th to 24th avenues will be closed this week for repaving. Signs and flaggers will redirect traffic.

Also on Pines, the northbound curb lane and sidewalk will be closed from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting today through Thursday for utility conduit work.

Sprague Avenue between Park and Thierman roads will be reduced to two lanes from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. starting on Thursday and continuing through June 14 for repaving work.

Sullivan Road from the Spokane River to Trent Avenue remains reduced to one lane in each direction through mid-June for traffic signal and stormwater work.

Update on county repair projects

In Spokane County, three projects will affect traffic. Farwell Road is closed from the North Spokane Corridor to east of Market Street for widening and improvements through the summer.

The Little Spokane River Bridge north of Wandermere is expected to reopen at the end of June.

Cheney-Spokane Road will have single lane closures during work to install guard rails and other safety improvements.

I-90 Rose Lake exit upgrade begins

In North Idaho, bridge decks at Interstate 90’s Rose Lake Interchange (Exit 34) and the adjacent 4th of July Creek Bridge will be removed and replaced with new concrete surfaces starting today.

The project will be finished in late August, the Idaho Transportation Department said.

Asphalt on Idaho 3 also will be ground out and replaced, while pipe drains in the median on I-90 under the bridge will be repaired.

Traffic will be reduced to one lane in the immediate area of the work, with flaggers on hand to guide motorists. The speed limit will be reduced to 55 mph on I-90 and 25 mph on Idaho 3. Highway 3 also will have a width reduction to 12 feet.

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Businessman W.G. Willis bought the southwest corner of Post Street and Riverside Avenue from pioneer land developers A.M. Cannon and J.J. Browne in 1886. He began building the three-story Falls City Building.